Vice President John Dramani Mahama, on Thursday expressed grave concern at the high rates of the hospitality industry in the country.
"Hotel rates in the country are extremely high compared to rates in other countries on the African continent," he stressed.
Vice President Mahama made the observation when inspecting progress of work on the rehabilitated Movenpick Ambassador Hotel in Accra.
He appealed to the management of the hotel to consider making facilities affordable and accessible to investors and tourists in Ghana.
Vice President Mahama said he was encouraged with the extent of work at the hotel and appealed to the Italian contractors on the project to make it attractive and comfortable for investors and tourists to carry a positive image of the country abroad.
The hotel when completed would have an initial capacity of 150 Presidential, Executive and ordinary suites with a 75-metre swimming pool, the biggest in the country.
Others are: 30 furnished apartments for sale, ultra-modern tennis court, 350 capacity car park and the largest barbecue facility in the country.
Vice President Mahama said with the influx of investors and tourists in the country, there was the need for the construction of more hospitality facilities to create competition and subsequently bring quality of service in the industry.
"The Ambassador hotel used to be the flagship of Ghana and I am particularly happy and satisfied that the hotel is being revived to serve Ghanaians and citizens from other countries".
Mrs. Zita Okaikoi, Minister of Tourism designate, said the Ministry would institute routine checks on the hospitality industry throughout the country to ensure that workers were paid right salaries according to their specifications of jobs and qualification.
She said: "Ghana has a record of dealing with all foreign nationals who maltreat Ghanaian citizens and we shall make sure that every worker in the industry are treated with respect".
Mr. Clovis Abi Nader, Project Manager of the Company, gave the assurance that the major works would be completed by October 2010, while other projects would be completed in stages.